ORCID
- Ryan Statton: 0000-0002-8833-8481
- Alison Bacon: 0000-0003-4279-3814
- Jaysan Charlesford: 0000-0001-5823-8976
Abstract
Social media provides an untapped resource for exploring Moral Disgust. We therefore drew on ‘tweets’ about Moral Disgust (k=526) to better conceptualise the situations, people, and concepts users found Disgusting. Our Reflexive Thematic Analysis identified two themes and accompanying subthemes: Hierarchical Disgust and Third-Party Disgust. Hierarchical Disgust was constructed from expressions of Disgust directed to power structures, abuses of power, and leaders, whereas Third-Party Disgust comprised expressions directed at negative outcomes for others, often in the form of discrimination or harm. Both themes served as a form of group protection through out-group distancing and normative in-group policing. Importantly, this research extends classic Disgust literature (e.g., Tybur et al., 2013), presenting a novel approach to naturalistic data collection and providing future researchers with an approach to study other emotions, beliefs, and subjects that are expressed online.
Publication Date
2024-06-13
Publication Title
Qualitative Methods in Psychology Bulletin
Issue
37
ISSN
2044-0820
Keywords
disgust, moral, social media, thematic analysis
Recommended Citation
Statton, R., Bacon, A., Charlesford, J., & Terbeck, S. (2024) '#Disgusted: Identifying potential sub-factors of Moral Disgust through Reflexive Thematic Analysis of Tweets', Qualitative Methods in Psychology Bulletin, (37). Available at: 10.53841/bpsqmip.2024.1.37.34
